MATERIALS | AGRICULTURAL FILM


Agriculture market trends towards more sophisticated technical film


According to AMI’s Global Agricultural Film Study (published in September 2025), the market is no longer driven just by growing demand – but by replacing existing films with more technically sophisticated alternatives. “This shift reflects rising expectations within the farming sector and the rapid


pace of material and machinery innovation,” says the report. Polymer suppliers and additive and masterbatch producers can benefit as demand shifts to higher-value grades. Machinery makers see growth potential, especially in regions like North Africa and the Middle East as outdated equipment is replaced with newer technology. However, growth is not even across the world. In Europe, it is slowing – though export opportunities remain strong, especially for silage stretch films. In China, shifting trade flows are redirecting volumes elsewhere now that sales to the US have fallen. North Africa has also seen investment in film production. Agricultural film extruders are also diversifying beyond film to provide


integrated solutions – such as PE nets, geomembranes and irrigation systems. This reflects a wider trend toward efficiency and convenience.


In field trials, it compared standard PE mulch film against several of its biodegradable formula- tions under real agricultural conditions. For habanero peppers, plant yield nearly doubled (from 10 for the conventional film, to 17 or 18 for new formulations). This led to a 50% increase in fruit weights – but lower suppression of weeds. (One formulation saw eight weeds, while the standard grade showed six.) The company is producing black mulch film


commercially while carrying out trials on clear, and white-on-black films.


Mastering colour Colour masterbatch can also be a useful way to improve the properties of mulch film. Hanna Schwartz, R&D manager at Kafrit, said different colours of mulch film can serve a variety of pur- poses. Black gives a herbicide effect, for instance, while white improves light reflection, silver repels insects – while yellow attracts them. She cited two examples: the company’s ‘photo- selective’ brown (LDPE) and green (LLDPE) grades. One is used to absorb a portion of photosyntheti- cally active radiation (PAR) to suppress weed growth. The other transmits near infrared radiation (NIR), which warms the soil, increases temperature and enhances root development. She also explained the difference between using white or silver masterbatch for mulch. White


22 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | April 2026


North American demand for agricultural film, 2024


Silage film 16%


Mulch film 43%


Greenhouse film 41%


Source: AMI


increases the amount of light from reflection, delivering more light to the lower parts of the plants. It also reflects the NIR part of sun light, for cooler soil – ad has a herbicide effect. Silver also increases the amount of light from


reflection, but also reflects the UV part of sunlight and disturbs insect activity. In field trials, Kafrit tested three-layer mulch film made with its UV stabiliser masterbatch. The silver-on-white and white-on-black film was 25 microns thick and was subjected to high light levels, elevated temperature and both chlorine- and sulphur-based pesticides. Results showed that both the white/black and silver/black versions of its UVOH47 retained a high percentage of elongation after treatment with either sulphur or chlorine. n The next Agricultural Film and Plastics conference is held on 14-15 July 2026 in Houston, USA. For more details, contact Annabel Kerr on +1 610 478 0800 (annabel.kerr@amiplastics.com).


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.amiplastics.com � www.exxonmobilchemical.com � www.3vsigmausa.com � www.radicalcatalyst.com � www.polyexpert.com � www.carbonnurture.com � www.kafrit.com


www.filmandsheet.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38